François Fillon, a former French prime minister who is now running for president, said Wednesday the West was largely to blame for inflaming tensions with Russia. He called for closer cooperation with the Russian president on security, notably in fighting ISIL.

“I think [the West] made huge errors” in dealing with Russia after the Soviet Union’s collapse,” Fillon told journalists at the European-American press club in Paris. “We committed errors that led to the tensions that we know today … We partly provoked the situation.”

Having behaved in an “irresponsible” manner toward Moscow, the West now had to “find a way to speak to Russia,” Fillon said. “We have a challenge in keeping Russia focused on Europe and not sliding toward Asia.”

The best way to restore relations was to bring Russia into the Western-led coalition against ISIL and collaborate to crush the terrorist group, he added.

‘Acute Russophilia’

Fillon, who polls show to be ranked third in the race to win the Right’s nomination for president behind ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and frontrunner Alain Juppé, is one of several members of the Républicains party urging the West to lift economic sanctions against Moscow and to pursue closer ties.

Sarkozy, who heads the Republicains party, has also called for the lifting of sanctions. Last October, he traveled to Moscow and met with Putin, whom he has described as a “friend.”

To a lesser degree, France’s ruling Socialists are also considering a thaw in relations with Russia. Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron has called for the lifting of sanctions, while Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault invited Putin to come to Paris in October — an invitation the Russian leader accepted in principle.

Only Juppé, who leads polls ahead of a November primary, has voiced skepticism for what he called an onset of “acute Russophilia” in his party.

‘Immoral’ US behavior

Asked by POLITICO to explain why the Républicains party was so keen on Russia, Fillon said: “There is no fascination for Russia on the part of the leaders of my political family. There is just a big sense of historical continuity, as General de Gaulle well understood that peace in Europe relies on having political relations with Russia.”

While Russia was “extremely unstable,” “not democratic” and even “potentially a danger” to European security, it was up to the West to make up for past mistakes and restore healthier diplomatic ties with Moscow, he said.

Fillon declined to say whether France should reconsider its membership in NATO. But he did criticize “some members” of the United States-led alliance, which he said had “provoked” Russia by extending its reach to countries close to Russian borders.

NATO was not doing enough to protect Europe against what he called the real security threat, which was Islamist fundamentalism.

As for the United States, Fillon said that a “clarification” in its relations with Europe was needed.

The fact that the U.S. justice system could punish foreign companies for breaching U.S. rules, such as a ban on trading with Iran, was “immoral,” he said. “That sort of action should prompt a much greater outcry than it does.”

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Zack

I always knew the Old Europe idiots would betray us. We should show them the meaning of freedom, a few A-10s later, and they’ll stop being idiots.

Posted on 7/13/16 | 11:09 PM CEST

CBaggins

“Zack”….lol. Idiot.

Posted on 7/14/16 | 10:53 AM CEST

trisul

It seems that Putin’s foray into purchasing European politicians is deepening by the day. After UKIP, Syriza, Le Pen, AfD one can see his fingerprints all over Corbyn’s Labour and now Républicains. After buying of the fringes, he seems to be making his way into the center of politics.

It’s a good investment, very KGB in character, and a very cheap way of gaining influence. However, I believe it will boomerang badly for European politicians who allow themselves to be bought by a man threatening to nuke European cities.

Posted on 7/14/16 | 1:43 PM CEST

Petr

Who needs enemies if you have allies like the French.

Posted on 7/14/16 | 8:59 PM CEST

ironworker

Yeah, Ukraine and Crimea didn’t actually happened.

Posted on 7/15/16 | 10:58 AM CEST

Branko

To Cbaggins,

by insulting someone whom you do not even know, just because he has different opinion than you , shows your lack of intellect , culture and education. It also shows your totalitarian way of thinking.
Victor Hugo wrote the novel “les Miserables” for creatures like you, and F.M Dostoyevsky wrote the “IDIOT”.
HEIL Cbaggins and get help, you need it ….